New Virginia Commerce Secretary Carrie Chaney pledges cross-agency coordination, focus on talent and site capacity

Carrie Chaney, Virginia's newly appointed secretary of Commerce and Trade, told the Senate Finance subcommittee on economic development and natural resources that she will emphasize cross-agency coordination and legislative partnership to address workforce, site capacity and affordability needs across the Commonwealth.

"I'm Carrie Chaney. I'm third week on the job," Chaney said as she introduced herself and outlined her background in regional economic development and agriculture and forestry. She told lawmakers she has served on the board of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and has run an independent business, experience she said will inform the new role.

Chaney said nine agencies report to the secretary and that coordinating those entities creates opportunities to streamline efforts and leverage existing authorities for more consistent, statewide impact. "One of the things I'm really excited about is the coordination of the 9 agencies that report to the Secretary of Commerce and Trade," she said, adding that the administration will focus on enduring challenges including affordability, energy and housing.

Committee members pressed for early assessments of the economic-development pipeline Chaney inherited with the administration change. Chaney said the pipeline is "strong" in many respects because of prior site and workforce investments, but added that capacity building will be needed to meet the promises and announcements already made to prospective employers.

She invited continued communication with the subcommittee and pledged to be a responsive partner to legislators, saying she welcomed feedback to "help us find our blind spots" as the administration refines strategies.

The meeting moved next to an update from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership; no formal votes were held at the session.